When Jacob informs Lydia that Uncle Horace bled out after hitting his head in the forest, what they would not have known when he recounted this tale was that excessive drinking can cause thinning of the blood which prevented Horace’s wound from clotting. Not only did Uncle Horace suffer from alcoholism that drove him to extremes beyond acceptable behavior, it rendered him jaundiced and his body incapable of healing in order to save his life. However, this did not excuse his behavior, for each choice was his own to make, including the choice to abuse alcohol in the first place, and at any time he could have taken steps to change his ways.
Watching someone in the advanced stages of alcoholism is a tragedy to witness and leaves a lasting impression on one’s thoughts. Fortunately, I have been
